Immigrant Anxiety Rises as Trump-Era Immigration Crackdown Deepens, Survey Reveals

Fear and uncertainty are spreading rapidly across immigrant communities in the United States as stricter immigration enforcement and visa policy changes take effect under the Trump administration. According to the 2025 Survey of Immigrants, conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) in collaboration with The New York Times, nearly 22% of immigrants say they personally know someone who has been arrested, detained, or deported on immigration-related grounds since Donald Trump took office in January.

The survey highlights a sharp rise in anxiety, with 41% of immigrants now worried that they or a family member could face detention or deportation—up from 26% in 2023. While concern is highest among likely undocumented immigrants at 75%, fear has also grown significantly among lawfully present immigrants and naturalised citizens. Worry among lawful residents increased from 33% to 50%, while concern among naturalised citizens more than doubled from 12% to 31%.

More than half of respondents (53%) said they lack confidence that they or their family members would be treated fairly by the U.S. legal system if detained for immigration-related reasons. The psychological impact has spilled into daily life, with nearly three in ten immigrants cancelling travel plans to avoid potential scrutiny. Among undocumented immigrants, 63% reported avoiding both domestic and international travel. Even among H-1B visa holders, 32% said they have limited travel, while 15% of naturalised citizens expressed similar caution.

Policy shifts surrounding the H-1B visa program have intensified concerns. In December 2025, the Department of Homeland Security announced a move away from the traditional lottery system toward a weighted selection model favouring higher-paid, highly skilled applicants, effective February 27, 2026. Earlier, Trump signed a proclamation increasing H-1B application fees, citing the need to curb misuse of the program.

The changes have disproportionately affected Indian professionals, long the largest beneficiaries of H-1B visas. Indian IT firms now face higher costs, while many workers in technology, healthcare, and finance remain unsettled by delayed visa appointments. As immigration rules tighten, anxiety within immigrant communities continues to grow, reshaping both personal lives and the U.S. workforce.